- 1高人一等的、屈尊俯就的
When you are condescending, you talk or act as if you are better, smarter, or more important than the other person — and they can feel it. You might speak extra slowly, use baby words, or “explain” something they already know, as if you are doing them a favour by coming down to their level. English uses this word to show ; it is never a compliment.
Though actually, the older picture inside the word is “coming down”: you leave a high place and step down to speak to someone “below” you. That is why it stings. You can be kind, clear, and patient without being condescending; the difference is whether you still treat the other person as an equal.
It is a fairly strong, grown-up word. People reach for it when a boss, a doctor, a teacher, or a shop assistant talks down to them. You can describe a tone, a smile, a question, or a whole manner as condescending.
組成condescend (con- “with / down” + descend “go down”) + -ing. The old idea is stepping down from a high place to talk to someone “below” you; the bad feeling came later.
同家族的字
- condescendthe verb — to talk down to someone, or to “come down” to their level
- condescensionthe noun — that talking-down attitude
- condescendinglythe adverb — doing it in that way
- descendsame “go down” piece
原始詞典資料3 筆記錄
以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，摘錄並精簡格式，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。
condescendingadj/ˈkɔn.dɪ.sɛnd.ɪŋ/
- 1
Assuming a tone of superiority, or a patronizing attitude.
- Quit talking to me in that condescending tone! You always treat me like a child!
- The housekeeper, a very decorative brunette of thirty-five with a pseudo-English accent, greeted him with a mixture of grateful effusion and condescending patronage.
condescendingnoun/ˈkɔn.dɪ.sɛnd.ɪŋ/
- 1
An act of condescension.
- Is it the condescendings of a great one that we see in Christ? "I am among you as one that serveth," says He.
這個拼法也被記錄為下列字的變化形：
摘錄自 英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary，已精簡格式；依 CC BY-SA 4.0 授權使用，改動後的內容同樣以此授權提供。